Worldwide the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections is increasing. Today we will discuss innovative ways of testing and treating large number of patients with STIs that are equitable, reliable and potentially cost-effective. We will discuss the eSexual Health Clinic (eSHC) research published in The Lancet Public Health in 2017 and NIHR funded SEQUENCE Digital research program based in UK as well as the multi-site co-designed EmERGE research program based in UK, Croatia and Zambia.

Host: Ass Prof/Dr Fabiola Martin, Sexual Health Specialist, Associate Professor at Australian National University

Guests: Professor Claudia Estcourt, Professor of Sexual Health & HIV in Glasgow, Scotland and in London and a sexual health clinician

Dr Mary Darking, Principal Lecturer in Social Policy and Innovation at Brighton University

Lancet paper: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(17)30034-8/fulltext

Today we will discuss the evolution and efficacy of antenatal testing for blood borne pathogens as a strategy to improve pregnancy outcomes and prevent parent to child transmission. Over the last 40 years the number of infections tested for in the antenatal setting has expanded which has been followed closely by treatment guidelines for each infection. However, there are stark regional differences in the infections routinely tested for. Brazil has recently added Human T Leukaemia Virus (HTLV) to its antenatal testing and is planning to test 2.5 million pregnancies yearly. Pregnant people who test positive for HTLV are advised to avoid breast feeding and are provided with formula milk free of charge. Health care providers are being offered upskilling in HTLV care provision. This way Brazil aims to "Take HTLV out of Invisibility" and ultimately eliminate HTLV in Brazil.

Host: Ass Prof/Dr Fabiola Martin, Sexual Health Specialist, Associate Professor at Australian National University

Guests: Professor Graham Taylor, Head of Section of Virology at Imperial College London and a founder of the National Centre for Human Retrovirology at St. Mary’s Hospital – the UK’s clinical service for people living with Human T Leukaemia Virus (HTLV) infection.

Dr Pâmela Cristina Gaspar, General Coordinator of Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance at Ministry of Health of Brazil, Brasilia, Brazil Host: Ass Prof/Dr Fabiola Martin, Sexual health, HIV and HTLV Specialist, Canberra, Australia and Australian National University

Brazil HTLV ANC testing: - National guide: https://www.gov.br/aids/pt-br/central-de-conteudo/publicacoes/2022/guia_htlv_internet_24-11-21-2_3.pdf/view - Folder HTLV for general population: https://www.gov.br/aids/pt-br/assuntos/ist/materiais-informativos/folder-htlv-final-grafica.pdf - Distance Learning Course for HTLV: https://campusvirtual.fiocruz.br/gestordecursos/hotsite/htlv

NACCHO-ASHM, Australia, HTLV testing guidelines: https://htlv1.guidelines.org.au/

Today we will discuss different types of HIV and Syphilis antibody testing performed at home by the patient or consumer. Home testing for HIV and Syphilis empower people, especially pregnant women who live in remote areas or are marginalised and hard to reach, to screen themselves for these two serious and communicable infections at home and seek additional confirmitory testing, treatment and support if their screening test is reactive. We will discuss what these tests are, how they can be used as well as review their merits and potential risks.

Host: Dr Fabiola Martin, Sexual Health Specialist, Associate Professor at Australian National University

Guest: Dr Bobbie Van Der Pol, Professor of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Director of the UAB STD Diagnostics Laboratory and President of the International Society for STD Research.